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A certain something Mark Bryson Chronicle Staff There will be a noticeable absence from the third seat to the mayor‘s right when Waterloo City council sits for its first meeting following the Nov. 12 municipal elecâ€" tion. Ald. Charles Voelker won‘t be in it. The cordial 66â€"yearâ€"old architect has decided that it is time to pursue other ventures following decades of public service, including the past 15 years on city council. Veteran alderman Charles Voelker will be missed on council Despfte his retirement from politics, Voelker does not plan to lose touch with the happen_in_gs of the city. "Just because I‘m not on council doesn‘t mean I can‘t write them or go down there and say this should or shouldn‘t be done. You can bet I‘m going to stay in touch," said Voelker. Throughout his 15year council stint and 17 years previous to that on the Waterloo County public school board, Voelker has always been a behindâ€"theâ€"scenes hustler. It is those things that go on without the fanfare that has made Voelker such an asset to the city. You have only to look as far back as last weekend for evidence. At his own expense, Voelker and three town planners ventured to Rochester, N.Y. to study curbs, gutters, street lighting and housing subdivisions to try to pick up ideas that Waterloo can put into practice. It‘s not exactly what many would call an exciting weekend, but it is these acts of concern that have made Voelker such an important figure at city hall. In fact, had Voelker not "spent at least $75 on coffee trying to convince council Waterloo needed a crematoâ€" ry,"" the city would likely still be without one. ‘"Things like crematories are not the type of things people like to talk about, but I was convinced we needed one and after five years of trying I finally got it. Now we‘re really making money on it for the city‘s parks and L didn‘t even get a gift certificate out of the deal," said Voelker. Since his election to council in 1970, Voelker has roamed the city with his now famous yellow book in hand, jotting down ideas that he would like to look into for future consideration by council. Much of that is written in the yellow book concerns the beauty of Waterloo. Voelker is obsessed with making Waterloo as cosmetically perfect as possible. Evidence of this is his initiation of the Uptown Residents‘ Association‘s Civic Improvement Award, an accolade going to residents or businesses who do their part in beautifying Waterioo. His drive will not stop when he leaves office. Following his retirement, Voelker will push to establish more parkland in Waterloo "while it‘s still possible" and add to what the city already has. Pony rides in Waterloo Park Maggie, Schnarr Chronicle Staff Since its inception 17 years ago, the Block Parent program has continued to help children in need of assistance in all regions of Canada. â€" â€" o _ To celebrate this cause, Oct. 21 â€" 27 has been prociaimed Block Parent week across Canada. The Block Parent program is designed to protect its community youngsters from frightening crimes or experiâ€" ences, abduction or molestation. Block Parent volunteers open their homes to children and provide a safe refuge and protection when an emergency rises Here in the Waterloo region, this program, now in its 10th year, is one of the largest local programs in Canada. The red and white sign depicting an adult holding a child‘s hand is noticeably visible in 10,200 homes in the Kâ€"W area. During Block Parent week, displays will be set up in 131 school areas and children will be sent home with information regarding this valuable program. â€" â€" Block Parents display their signs in a front window when available for assistance to a child, but remove the sign when not. They are also required to notify the proper assistance in case of an emergency, whether it is parents, police or medical help. O o â€" Block Parents is funded through efforts by its members plus contributions from local business, service groups and the general public. â€" c _ O _ But while the program is successful and continually expanding, local organizers say there is always a need for more Block Parents and volunteers to act as representaâ€" tives especially in the newer subdivisions in the Kâ€"W area. Block Parents hold week of celebration Ald. Charles Voelker spends a relaxing moment with two of his favourite things; his yellow book and a good cup of coffee. The alderman will retire from politics next month, wrapping up over 30 years of community service. Mark Bryson photo is just one example of ideas Voelker will help add to the city‘s appeal. _ â€" éy his own admission, many of his ideas are "just plain stupid,"" but it‘s the continuous effort that has made him a bonus to the city for so long. _ Voelker has been known over the years as a man who is Waterloo alderman Mary Jane Mewhinney is concerned about the city‘s recreational facilities and wants detailed information from the community services department to see just how bad the problem is. "It has come to the point where regional councilliors from Kitchâ€" ener are making derogatory comments about Waterloo resiâ€" dents using Kitchener pools. I‘m told 60 per cent of the users at Breithaupt pool are from Water loo. Why is this?" asked Mewhinâ€" ney at Monday night‘s council meeting. Community services director Ken Pflug said his department is currently in contact with the Waterloo Family Y and Kitchenâ€" er Parks and Recreation finding an answer to the question. An article in the Oct. 9 Chronâ€" icle stated the Y is working at an approximate 70 per cent capacity for swimming lessons. Pflug feels this may be indicative of the slightly higher costs. Mayor Marjorie Carroll got into the conversation by saying if Waterloo should construct its own pool it could possibly spell the end for the Y, "a definite area of concern." Mewhinney was also conâ€" cerned about statements in the press from Kitchener representâ€" atives stating Waterloo residents are taking advantage of Kitchenâ€" er tax dollars because they did not take into consideration that Kitchener residents use Waterioo Mewhinney irked by pool comments facilities such as Rink in the Park. Carroll agreed and expressed concern about the issue creating friction between the Twin Cities. ‘"I would hate to see a munici pal squabble," said Carroll. Chronicle Staff Lynn Johns, spokesman for the Beechwood West group in attendance at Monday‘s meeting, made the pitch on behalf of 431 residents who share his concern. He told council, that despite Regional road warrant studies indicating there was no need for lights, his group was convinced a tragic accident is invevitable at the location . According to Mayor Marjorie Carroll, who is also chairman of the region‘s engineering committee, she sympathized with the group but explained if the intersection did not meet Ministry of Transportation and Communication standards, there would be no provincial subsidies. But she told the group that the intersection was "definitely on the Region‘s shopping list." In an attempt to halt the perils at the intersection of Keatsway and Fischerâ€"Hallman, a group of Waterloo homeowners asked and received the endorsement of Waterioo City Council in their battle with the Region to attain traffic lights at the location. Johns made it clear to council that he realized the issue was a regional one, but felt council‘s support would be a bonus when approaching the higher level. He got what he wanted. "I fully support you, said Ald. Richard Biggs. A regional study done this summer showed the intersection fell nine per cent short of warrant standards. During the past five years there have been 10 collisions at the intersection, including seven in the past two years. WATERLOO CHRONICLE, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1985 â€" PAGE Council gives group backing never at a loss for words. This trait seems to rub off on his fellow council members when asked to describe him. ‘"Charlie is an institution," said Mayor Marjorie Carroll. ‘"He may not be vocal, but he‘s always informed and makes good decisions when it comes time to vote. His contributions will be greatly missed." _ She was particularly upset to see his vast experience leave. ‘New members of council have looked to him as a mentor. Charlie has supplied information on things that have happened in the past that have a direct bearing with today‘s goingsâ€"on." "l_\'tdhiot;l}ié; 7n‘iéht’s meeting of council, Ald. Jim Erb confronted Voelker‘s stepping down with a friendly joke during discussion. â€" â€" c "You can‘t quit Charlie, you‘re the conscience of the city," said Erb. Ald. Brian Turnbull is also all praise. "He adds a certain something that none of the rest of us bhas. 1 think it his downâ€"toâ€"earth good humor and concern with the beauty of the city that have made him such a tremendous asset," said Turnbull. To Write about Voelker‘s political accomplishments would take literally pages of space. Since his start in politics, Voelker says he‘s "been on every blessed committee there is." "I‘m probably a good councillor but a poor politician. I‘ve never been a speech maker, back slapper or baby kisser but I‘ve always got the job done," he said. _ The fact that Voelker has never campaigned for office and continues to nudge in comfortably is a true vote of confidence in his abilities, from the public. _ O His first office post was with the school board. Voelker says his ability to read blueprints was the only reason he was asked to join. During his school board days, Voelker served as Waterloo‘s revision court judge. Throughout these days and the rest of his life, Voelker has always drawn for a living. During the war his skills were put to use constructing the plans for ammunition locally. The surprising part of his talent for drawing is that Voelker never once took a lesson on how to draft, just picked up a pencil and started doing it. He has drawn plans for every local builder and has a client list of 18 to oblige when he leaves office. Considering he has been doing it since he was 18 years old and has four plans on Kitchener‘s prestigious Westgate Walk and over 40 in Colonial Acres to boast, it seems Voelker enjoys what he does and does it well. Now that he is faced with retirement from public office, Voelker plans to hook up the 18 ft. trailer and do some travelling with Grace, his wife of 45 years. One thing will likely remain the same. Grace will probably be out for the enjoyment of it while Charlie will likely be jotting down notes about curbs and gutters. Chiefâ€"administrativeâ€"officer Don Roughley said the issue would be tackled in detail as part of the community services‘ goals and objectives for 1986 at which time a master plan would be drawn up.